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Knowing The Risks of Driving While Intoxicated

Find a DWI Attorney in Camp Claiborne, Louisiana

Just what you will need to know if you have a
DWI

Driving under the Influence (DUI) is a
major criminal offense that could perhaps have an affect on
a great number of
issues
of a person's everyday living.
Employment might possibly be
harmed, legal
rates may impinge
on money and driving
a car
liberties may be terminated.
There are a great deal of irrevocable
implications to driving a vehicle under the influence that may cause
extreme damage to a person's
daily life. If
charged for a DUI,
legal representation is
essential to
receive a
diminished
sentence and avert jail time. Judges are
providing nastier sentences for the
crime, as well as, more expensive penalties.

At
the present time, the legitimate drinking age
in the United States is 21 years
old. A
considerable
number
of Driving Under the Influence charges are was sent by
different
people younger than the age of 21. Some drunk driving charges were accompanied by
traffic accidents and fatalities. States
aware of the
available
data are providing underage drinkers, who drive under
the influence, felony charges and
lengthy
jail sentences.

Currently, in all 50 states, driving under the influence is classified by law as
possessing a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or
steeper. However, in some states
intoxicated drivers may be charged with a
lesser offense if the BAC is lower than 0.08%. Laws for Driving
Under the Influence charges vary from state
to state. Therefore, individuals must learn the rules of
just about every state before operating a vehicle.

How Drinking Affects the Body

Alcohol is a depressant that slows the
interaction or impulse
time of the driver. Brain
impulses are under control
when drinking. Some impulses do not
appear to the brain while drunk.
Therefore,
people may not behave
swiftly enough to keep clear of an
impediment in the road, a
stopped automobile or an animal. Men and
women that are drunk or inebriated may
view
simple fact
otherwise than actuality. This
makes it challenging to
handle the auto and drive within the white and
yellow lines on the street. Intoxicated
individuals
continually cause
catastrophes when they cannot discern or keep the
auto or
truck in the path.

A wide range of impaired
motorists have caused fatalities or
severely injured themselves or another person. Drivers under the age of
24 are more likely to pass on in a car
accident than from any other cause, according to the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention. Forty percent of these fatalities are related to
liquor. Both people and
passengers are likely to expire in an
booze related
operating a vehicle incident.

Statistics for Fatalities While Driving Under the Influence

A blood alcohol content of one tenth or 0.10
will increase
the likelihood of
a deadly collision by seven times.
Correspondingly, the
probability for death will increase 25 times for an
individual whose blood alcohol level is increased
to 0.15. Operating a vehicle with a legal blood
alcohol level of 0.04 will raise the
likelihood of being
engaged in an auto accident by 1.4 times. If this number
doubles, the chance of an
accident
will increase by 11
times. Added drinks could have
fatal
outcomes,
if the motorist proceeds to drive a
vehicle. Those who choose to continue may live with the
implications of their
actions, if they endure the
car accident.

Cost of a Driving
while intoxicated Charge

Individuals charged with a Drunk driving must purchase special insurance and
obtain legal representation. Those convicted of a Driving under the influence must
purchase SR22 car insurance. This type of insurance usually carries a
more costly premium because the
risk of the driver being involved in an
accident increases.

Legal representation charges may vary. These expenses may become costly.
The best DWI lawyers are expensive and required to convince the
judge to reduce the sentence. A felony sentence may cost an individual
their job in some instances. This is a serious offense that should not
be taken lightly.

For example, in one particular state, a DWI offense was estimated to
cost $12,116 in 2004. This particular figure includes the fines,
penalties, vehicle towing and impound, alcohol education class, victim
restitution fund, DMV license reissue fee, attorney and legal fees,
booking and fingerprinting fee and increases in auto insurance.

A DUI charge is not cheap. The bulk of the expense will actually
be the auto insurance increase. DUI offenders have incurred as much as
$7,300 in additional expenses for SR22 auto insurance. The second
largest expenses are the attorney and legal fees. Offenders may pay
approximately $2,500 or more for proper representation. The penalties
and fees may cost approximately $1200, and the alcohol education class
will cost approximately $500. Offenders will spend nearly $200 for
vehicle towing and impound and another $300 for DMV and booking fees.
These are avoidable expenses that motorists
should take seriously.

SR22 Insurance

A great many companies will offer
insurance to high risk people. Drivers
with current insurance should continue to make their monthly premium for
the current insurance on the vehicle. The premium will not increase
rapidly. The changes will take effect after the accident has been
reported, the vehicle repaired and the premium expires.

Drivers who want their vehicle repaired or a check, if vehicle is a
total loss, must report the accident to the insurance company. The
reason for the accident will be shown on the police report. Therefore,
the premium increase is unavoidable unless the driver pays the expense
out-of-pocket. In some instances, this may be cheaper than the premium
increase. If the expense is more than expected,
individuals may shop around to other
insurance companies to obtain a lower quote for SR22 insurance. However,
the premium increase is often unavoidable as insurance companies
randomly check driving records for infractions.

Drivers obtaining the insurance may still attempt to lower the insurance
rates by obtaining multiple policies with one company, by taking
defensive driving classes and by inclusion of safety features on the
vehicle. The costs are still high and unavoidable, in most instances.

Consequences of a Driving under the
influence Charge

First offenders will be required to take Drunk driving classes. These classes
will teach offenders accident prevention and also how to control their
alcohol intake. The DWI will be reported to the DMV and
your insurance company. The offense will stay on your record permanently
unless the driver files for expungement. This will remove the offense
from your record.

Some individuals may lose their job as a result of their offense. This
is a significant blow, if the driver has not planned for such an event.
A felony record
substantially impedes the person's ability to secure another job. A
salary reduction or complete change in career may be required of a
person with a felony record.

Examples of Some State's DUI Laws

California

California offenders may be charged with a Driving under the influence if
the BAC is above the legal level of 0.08% or under the level of 0.08%.
Drivers may be arrested if driving is impaired, even if the driver does
not consent to a breathalyzer test, blood test or a urine test.

California Drunk driving offenders will face both a civil and criminal trial.
The criminal trial will determine guilt or innocence in the Drunk
driving
charge, as well as, the sentence. The civil trial will determine whether
or not the driver can continue to drive with their current driver's
license. The second trial will take place through the California
Department of Motor Vehicles.

DWI arrests and charges may be removed from the record after 10
years if there are no other arrests made during the time period. Harsher
penalties will be assessed if there is a second offense during the 10
year time frame. The fines will increase, as well as, the jail sentences.

Nevada

Drivers in Nevada may be convicted of a Drunk driving whether a resident or a
non-resident. A BAC of 0.8% or
significant will be grounds for an
arrest in Nevada. Because Nevada is an implied consent state, if stopped
and suspected of driving under the influence,
drivers must agree to give a blood sample
or submit to a breathalyzer test. Drivers who refuse will be arrested.

Drivers charged with a DWI in Nevada will have their license
suspended. In the meantime, a temporary license will be issued for seven
days. A hearing will be scheduled during the seven days. The temporary
license will expire, and the license will remain suspended. Drivers that
are not residents of Nevada will not have their license taken by the
police. However, your resident state will be informed of the offense
through the DMV. A criminal proceeding is required for both residents
and non-residents in the state of Nevada.

Georgia

Drivers in Georgia may be charged with a DUI if the BAC level is 0.08
or larger. Any amount of contraband
drugs or unlawful blood levels will be grounds for a DWI
charge in the state of Georgia. Drivers that exhibit erratic driving
behavior and a blood alcohol content of over 0.08 may be convicted of a
Drunk driving. In some instances, individuals may also be taken to jail.

Drivers under the age of 21 that are suspected of Driving while intoxicated may
be issued a violation in Georgia if the breathalyzer reads 0.02 or
steeper. Commercial
individuals may also be issued a violation if
their blood alcohol level is 0.04 or
larger.